Richard I. 'Dick' Brown, 59

Richard I. "Dick," Brown, 59, passed away at his home in Casper, Wyo. on Jan. 16, 2008, after a long and painful illness.

Dick was born Jan. 1, 1949, in Lander Wyo. to Duane and Rita Asnicar Brown.

He married Sandra Vineyard in Loveland, Colo., and adopted a son Mike. They later divorced.

He married Shari Sutton and adopted his son, Spencer. He and Shari had a daughter, Stephanie. They later divorced.

He married Carolyn Fetters and was a stepfather to Richard and Steven.

Dick was raised in Lander and Casper, graduating in 1967 from Kelly Walsh High School. He served four years in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam war from 1968 to 1972.

He worked in construction and gas plant operations most of his working life and he was a patented inventor. Dick was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish in the Wind River country of Wyoming.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, and his stepson, Steven of Casper; sons Michael (April) of Chandler, Ariz.; Spencer of Fort Collins, Colo. and daughter Stephanie of Albuquerque, N.M.; brother Jim (Jan.) of Coeur d' Alene; sisters Mary (Floyd) Helm of St. George, Utah and Charlotte Yelek of Loveland, Colo. He was also survived by five grandchildren.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Earl, and stepson, Richard.

A celebration of his life will be held in Lander, Wyo. this summer.